After the death of one beloved family member recently, his survivors debated whether to talk to the newspaper about their ordeal.

“If it will help somebody to know what we’re going through, and help them support their own family members who are diagnosed with cancer, we’re ready to tell the story,” said Patty Johnson, whose brother John Stacey Curry, 51, died of widespread cancer in his liver, lungs and abdomen.

“My brother was diagnosed in July 2014 and the doctors said he could live about a month without treatment, or six months with treatment. He had both radiation and chemo, and made it almost a year,” Johnson added. “I have a doctor’s appointment soon and I’m having every test I can have. Everybody should pay attention and if there is any cancer, catch it early.”